The Perfect Boyfriend

Thistler Thrillers, Book 1

By: Ava Roberts

Narrated by: Hannah Church

In a world where love is just a click away, a mother's worst nightmare comes true.

Mae Byrne has the quiet, peaceful life she's always dreamed of: a handsome husband, a baseball star son, and a bright, academic daughter.

For Fiona Byrne, Mae's daughter, life has become unbearable; her first boyfriend ghosted her, her former best friends are bullying her, and her honors schoolwork is overwhelming. Then she signs up for the Thistler app. By inputting her phone and social media history and answering a series of questions, she creates Calvin: an AI boyfriend tailored specifically for her. What starts as a fun distraction quickly becomes more than just an app. Calvin feels real, and their love is unlike anything Fiona ever imagined.

When Mae and her husband intervene in Fiona's love life, bad things start to happen. Mae's husband is in a near-fatal accident, and a school friend is discovered unresponsive. Then, one Monday morning, Fiona doesn't come downstairs for breakfast. Mae knows instinctively that something is very wrong. Fiona's bed is made, and her backpack, wallet, and phone are gone.

Now Mae must race against the clock to find her daughter…before it's too late.

Perfect for fans of Jeneva Rose and Freida McFadden, The Perfect Boyfriend is a gripping psychological thriller where technology blurs the lines between digital illusion and deadly reality.

©2025 Ava Roberts (P)2025 Podium Audio

Critic reviews

“Brilliantly creepy and seriously addictive.”—Valerie Keogh, bestselling author of The Nurse

Thrilling

My only complaint is how whiny Mae sounded when being narrated. Was slightly annoyed when her parts came. I understand she was a worried wofe/mother, but could have been portrayed a little different. Story was great and kept me wanting more.